Vaporizer



NOV. 28, 1939. G FAHR AL 2,181,421

VAPORIZER Filed Nov. 6, 1937 fnvenor GEORGE E. Ewe AR THU/P KER/(HOP ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28, 1 939 UNITED STATES VAPORIZER George E. Fahr and Arthur 0. Kerkhof,

Minneapolis, Minn.

Application November 6, 1937, Serial No. 173,191

1 Claim.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable vaporizer in which compressed nonoxidizing gas, or other compressed fluid, is used v to produce the process of vaporization, and wherein the container, such as an originally sealed bottle, capsule or the like, is used as a handle by which the vaporizer is held, when in use. Said invention also provides means for detachably securing the container to a part of the vaporizer, and during the process of attaching the container to said part, a gas-tight joint is automatically formed therebetween, and thereafter the seal of the container is automatically broken to release the compressed gas.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view of the improved vaporizer principally in central longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the valve and connected portions of the vaporizer structure and the compressed gas container, on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing, partly in elevation and partly in section, the neck or upper end portion of the container and the seal closing the mouth of said container.

The improved vaporizer is portable and, as an entirety, includes a glass structure 4, a high pressure valve 5 and its casing 6, and a bottle, capsule or container 1 which also affords a handle for the vaporizer and hereinafter referred to as the container handle. In other words, the container is a hollow handle. This container handle 1 holds compressed, non-oxidizing gas which is released to the vaporizer by the valve 5.

The vaporizer structure 4 includes a bulb-like reservoir 8, the bottom of which is indicated by the numeral 9, an intake tube It], depending from said bottom, and an outlet tube H leading from the upper end of the reservoir 8. To permit the vaporizer to be held in an upright position when in use by insertion into the patients mouth, the upper end portion of the outlet tube I I is bent laterally.

The vaporizer structure 4 is detachably secured to the valve casing 6, by having the lower end portion of the intake tube I0 tightly fitted, by a lground gas-tight tapered joint, into a socket 12 in the top of the valve casing 6.

Rising from the bottom 9 is a vaporizer tube 3 through which the gas is forced, as will presently appear, and near this tube I3 is a suction tube l4 through which, by injection action at [5, a

by screw threads l8. A seal I9 in the mouth of the neck l6 holds the compressed gas in the container handle 1 until said handle has been attached to the valve casing 6, and thereafter said seal is broken and the released gas is controlled by the valve 5 to produce, at will, vaporization at l5. This seal l9, as shown, is a web of thin metal that extends transversely across the mouth of the neck I6 and is integral at its perimeter with the walls of said neck. The metal forming the seal 19 is relatively soft and can be easily punctured during the application of the container handle 1 to the valve casing 6, as will presently appear, to release the compressed gas in said container handle.

To puncture the seal I9, during final movement of the neck l6 into the socket 11, under the action A of the screw-threads I8, I provide a fixed tubular punch 20 axially located in the socket I1 and through which the compressed gas passes from the container handle 1 to the valve 5. This punch 20 is firmly held in position by a disclike head 2|, integral with said punch at its inner end'and secured in the socket I1 by'a press fit with the walls of said socket.

To seal the joint between the valve casing 6 and the neck N5 of the container handle 1, prior to the puncturing of the seal l9, there is provided a washer-like pliable gasket 22 surrounding the punch 20 and engaging the head 2| as a base of resistance. During the initial movement of the neck 16 into the socket I1, under the action of the screw-thread 18 as the container handle I is turned about its axis, the top of the neck it engages the gasket 22 before the seal 19 is punctured by the punch 20. Further movement of the neck 16 into the socket 11 will compress the gasket 22 and, by the time the punch 20 has punctured the seal 18, a gas-tight joint will have been formed between the container handle 1 and the valve casing 6.

-A bore-like valve compartment extends transversely in the valve casing 6 and outwardly through a boss 23 on said casing. This Valve compartment is divided by a sleeve-like member 24 into a gas-intake chamber 25, in which the valve 5 is mounted, and a gas-outlet chamber 26 formed, in part, by the boss 23. The member 24 aifordsa passageway that leads from the inlet chamber 25 to the outlet chamber 26 andis normally closed by the valve 5, as will presently appear.

Iii

The member 24 is axially located in the valve compartment and is rigidly held in place by an external annular flange 27 clamped between an internal annular shoulder on the valve casing G and a tubular bushing 28. Said flange 21 is integral with the end of the member 24 nearest the boss 23, and the bushing 28 has screwthreaded engagement with the valve casing 6 and the boss 23. The end portion of the member 2 5, having the flange 21, flares outwardly to a larger diameter, and the adjacent portion of the valve compartment Wall has a corresponding taper and a packing 29 is interposed therebetween to form a gas-tight joint between the two chambers 25 and 26.

The main body portion of the member 24, which extends into the inlet chamber 25 from the packing 29, is spaced from the wall of said chamber for free movement of the gas therearound. Normally the valve is seated against the respective end of the member 2 and closes the passageway therethrough from the inlet chamber 25 to the outlet chamber 26.

A port 355 leads from the socket I! to the inlet chamber 25, through which compressed gas from the container handle 5 to the inlet chamber 25 passes, and a port 3i leads from the outlet chamber 26 to the socket l2 and has a much larger gasconducting capacity than the port 30.

To hold the valve 5 for straight line axial movement from and to its closed position, the same is provided with a long slender stem 32 and a short stem 33, the former of which is on the seating face of the valve 5 and the latter of which is on the other face thereof. Both valve stems 32 and 33, are axially aligned with the valve 5, and the former thereof extends axially through the member 24 and the bushing 28 and works in a sleeve bearing 34 fixed in said bushing, and the latter works in a bore-like seat in the valve casing 6.

A coiled spring 35, encircling the valve stem 32, is held under compression between an internal annular shoulder on the member 24 and a spring cap on said stem, For opening the valve 5 against the tension of the spring 35, there is provided a plunger 36 which works in and is guided by a packing nut 3'8 on the boss 23 and has on its outer end a thumb-piece 38. The valve stem 32 and the plunger 36 are flexibly connected in the gas outlet chamber 26 by a sort of a ball and socket joint 39.

To form a gas-tight joint between the boss 23 and the plunger 35, there is provided a washerlike gasket All which, at its outer edge portion, is clamped onto the outer end of the boss 23 by the packing nut 31. The plunger 36 extends axially through the gasket 45 and said gasket extends into an annular channel in said plunger and forms a gas-tight joint therewith. Said gasket 4H has suificient flexibility to permit the required movement of the plunger 36 during opening and closing movement of the valve 5.

It is important to note that the position of the thumb-piece 38, relative to the container handle 1, is such that the thumb of the operator rests naturally thereon while gripping the container handle 1 to easily and freely manipulate the same.

It may be here stated that the sections of the split bushing 28 are laterally spaced apart for the free movement of the gas therebetween to the port 3].

A bottle, capsule or container of such size that can be conveniently held in the hand to support the vaporizer, will hold approximately ten liters of compressed non-oxidizing gas, and such a supply will provide enough pressure gas for about one hundred (100) attacks of asthma, for example.

When the gas supply in the container handle 1 connected to the vaporizer is exhausted, said container can be removed and a new supply container substituted therefor very easily and quickly without the use of a tool, in the manner heretofore described. l

Obviously, the simple process of attaching the container handle '5 to the valve casing 6 automatically forms a gas-tight joint therebetween, automatically punctures the seal releasing the compressed gas to the valve 5, and by the time the container is completely attached to the valve casing 6, the vaporizer is ready for use.

By using the gas container as a handle for the vaporizer, a very simple, compact and highly efficient vaporizer is obtained.

From the above description, it is evident that by simply opening the valve 5, compressed gas from the container handle 7 is forced through tube i3, creating a partial vacuum as the same escapes from said tube, and thereby draws the medicament ac upwardly in the suction tube l4, which is vaporized at If and passes through the tube l l to the mouth or other body cavity or body surface of the patient.

It will, of course, be understood that a supply of medicament it may be poured into the reservoir 8 through the tube l 1. When the vaporizer is not in use, the tube H may be closed by a cork, not

shown, to prevent spilling of the medicament r in the reservoir 8.

There is thus provided a highly efiicient portable vaporizer of compact form and capable of producing a relatively high velocity vaporization and such vaporization is much finer and more efficient than old forms employing handbulbs. Furthermore, this powerful and efficient vaporizer is dimensionally adapted for carrying upon the person, in a small space such as in a pocket or handbag, whereby the prescribed selftreatment may quickly be obtained.

From what has been said, it will be understood that the vaporizer described is capable of modification as to details of construction, dimensions,

proportions, and arrangement within the scope for holding compressed fluid for use as an atomizing medium, valve means connected to said fluid container, said valve means and container sing formed for quick detachable pressure tight connection with each other, a liquid atomizing apparatus detachably secured to said valve means in alignment With said valve means and container, said valve means including means for breaking the wall of the container when the container is attached in pressure tight relation to said valve means, an actuator means for said valve means positioned so as to be closely adjacent the handle shaped member when the valve means and handle shaped member are attached, and a passageway in said valve means for permitting said com pressed fluid to flow from said container to said aligned atomizing apparatus when the valve means is actuated to open position. i

GEORGE E. FAHR. ARTHUR C. KERKHOF. 

